Christmas at Fireside Cabins - Jenny Hale Page 0,88
you doing for accommodations tonight?”
“What do you want to do?” He’d turned the question around on her.
“Want to stay over again?”
“Yes,” he said, an indecipherable look in his eyes. It was as if asking anything more of him than that brought all the uncertainty straight back.
“It’s okay, you know,” she said. “If you stay, we can still take everything one step at a time.”
He nodded. “Think Eleanor would let me borrow her car to run to the coffee shop really quickly, so I can pick up my bag with my toiletries?”
“I’ll text her just to be sure, but it’s probably fine,” Lila said, taking out her phone and tapping away. She got a response immediately. “She says, ‘Yep!’”
“Excellent.” He set his wine down and grabbed his sandwich as he stood up. “I’ll take this with me. Back in ten minutes or less.”
She watched him head off, thinking that things could only go up from here.
Lila stood at the front window of the cabin, watching the massive snowstorm unfolding outside under the porch light, Eleanor’s tin of cookies in her arms. She ate another salted caramel thumbprint cookie, getting more frustrated by the minute. She wasn’t sure if it was the number of treats she’d had on an empty stomach, or the fact that Theo had been gone for over an hour now, that made her stomach ache. They’d missed their window for dinner, and Smash Perry was due to arrive any minute. She had no vehicle and no way to get in touch with him.
Had he slid into a ditch? Was he on the side of the road with a flat tire? The roads were most certainly treacherous… Or did something else happen? She recounted the moments before he’d left, trying to figure out what he could be doing, and all she could think about was the uncertainty she’d seen in his eyes. Surely, he wouldn’t have taken Eleanor’s car and left town… Would he? But all she had to do was remember the way he’d looked at her with complete honesty, and she knew he’d never do that to her. Which made Lila start to worry all over again.
Before she could ponder any other ideas, a red Ferrari pulled to a stop outside and Smash got out of it. After Theo’s story, she didn’t even want to think about how that man still owned a luxury sports car when he’d had to steal money from his own son.
He was smaller than he looked on television, a little older. But even his casual attire screamed musician. He had on jeans with a long coat, a stylishly battered and worn shirt under it, and boots. His longer hair gave him a look of ruggedness, and she could almost make out Theo’s face in his, noticing right away that they had the same blue eyes. Smash bounded up the steps and knocked on the door. Lila’s heart raced, fretting about what might unfold.
What would she say to him? Where was Theo? Lila opened the door.
“Hello,” Smash said in his cool swagger. He looked over at the cabin number. “My son Theo said to come to this address. Who are you?”
“My name is Lila Evans,” she replied. “I’m renting this cabin, and since Theo is selling the coffee shop, he’s sort of staying here.”
“Selling the shop?”
“Yes, that’s right.” She wished Theo was there to intervene, because she wasn’t sure how much he wanted her to say. “It’s nice to meet you.” She held out her hand. He shook it, his face curious. “Come inside.”
Piper would die to know that Smash Perry was standing in the little cabin kitchen with Lila.
“Where’s Theo?” he asked.
“I’m wondering the same thing. He left a few hours ago and said he’d only be ten minutes or so. He knows you’re coming, so I’m not sure what’s going on. He was just heading over to the coffee shop to get his bag.”
“Hop into my car. Let’s go look for him.”
She stared at him, hesitant. The next thing Lila knew, she was bundled up and sliding into the soft black leather of the Ferrari, the car purring like a content kitten. She folded her hands in her lap, reluctant to touch anything. Smash put the car in gear and pulled out of the drive, the ride feeling as though they were gliding on ice.
“You know your way to the coffee shop?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said.
Lila sat quietly, unsure what to say about the fact that Smash not only stayed at